Lock.



A. C. BELL.

LOCK.

ANIMATION FILED MAY 21, 1910.

Lgd, Patented Mar.2,1915.

ALBERT C. lBELL, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Loox.

1,1ea5e11.

with cases or boxes having hinged covers or locks for any purpose 1n connection with which -a spring catch is carried by one meinber which when brought into operative rela-- tion with another member carrying the lock Aengages the mechanism of the lock to retain the two members together. By my construction the mechanism of the lock is much simplified and the cost of making the lock very much reduced without materially sacrificing edectiveness of operation.

The several drawings illustrating my in-` vention are as follows:

Figure 1 is a back view of the lock with the catch in place, the back wall of the lock being removed to show the lock mechanism. Fi 2 is a sectional view ofthe parts .show n in ig. 1 taken along the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the cylinder of a modified form ofthe lock construction. Fig. 4 is a face View of the construction-shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a` view` similar to Fig. 1 -of a modified lock construction in which the cylinder is replaced by stops formed upon the lock casing. Fig. 6 is a view of the parts shown in Fig.. 'taken along the line 6 6. Fig. 7 is'a View of a key adapted for use in connection with the construction shownin Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a modified form of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the stops formed on the lock casing are replaced by projections carried by the lock tumblers.

Similar numerals` refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the lock consists essentially of a `casing 1 adapted to be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iiied May 21, 1910. Serial No. 562,610.

Patented air. 2, 1915.

screwed to the inside of the box or receptacle 2 to be closed by the lock. The casing l has extending from its front face a tube 3 which contains a cylinder 4 which cylinder has near its inner end a section 5 of reduced diameter against which tumblers 6--6 normally rest under the action of a spring 7. The end of the cylinder 4 is made of smaller diameter than the portion 5 as shown at 8 to enter a suitable hole provided therefor in the back wall of the lock casing 1.

The tumblers 6 are not secured in any Way to the casing 1 but rest loosely in the casing and are of such conformation that they cannot be displaced in the casing from their operative position being held in such position by the spring 7 which is also loosely contained in the casing around the tumblers 6 to be noted that each tumbler is independent in its action and that therefore an attempt to pick the lock will be unsuccessful' unless both tumblers are simultaneously engaged and moved to the position indicated in dot.- ted lines l which cannot be readily accomplished.

The lock is adapted tov be opened by a key 11 which may be inserted through a slot provided therefor in the cylinder 4, the end of the key being conformed to span the portion 5 of the cylinder so that the ends of the key may engage the tumblers I6 to move them to the position indicated in dotted lines when the key is rotated for which position the catch 9 may be readily removed from the casing 1.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the cylinder 4 is replaced by a cylinder 4a of such construction that no-containing tube 3 is required since the cylinder is Wholly contained .within the casing proper of the lock, its ends being reduced in diameter to enter corresponding holes in the lock casing as indicated for` the front or outer end of the cyl- `Inthe modification shown in Figs. 5 andA 6 the cylinder 4 is entirely omitted and projections 12 are formed from the casing to engage the tumblers 6 to hold them in proper position against the action of the spring 7 so that they may properly engage the catch when it is inserted in the lock casing and that they may be properly engaged by the end of the key shown in Fig. 7.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the tumblers 6a are formed with projections 6b which engage each other when the tumblers are in their normal position and thus serve to retain the tumblers in such position against the action voi" the spring 7 as a result o which no projecting portions from the casing 1 of the lock are required. The key 11 shown in Fig. 7 is adapted to operate the modified construction shown in Fig. 8 as well as that shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

While I have shown my invention in the particular forms herein described, it is to be understood, however, that equivalent constructions may be em loyed Without departing from the spirit ofp my invention.

- What I claim is:

1. In a lock, the combination of a casing, tumblers inclosed loosely in such casing and unsecured thereto, such tumblers adapted to engage a catch insertible in the casing and to be engaged by a releasing key, and a separate spring for retaining the tumblers in engaging position.

2. In a lock, the combination of a casing, tumblers inclosed loosely in such 'casing and unsecured thereto, such tumblers adapted to engage a catch insertible in the casing and to be engaged by a releasing key, and a separate spring loosely contained in the casing to retain the tumblers in engaging position.

3. In a lock, the combination of a casing,

a tumbler inclosed loosely in such casing and unsecured thereto, such tumbler adapted to engage a catch insertible in the casing, and a separate spring for retaining the tumbler in engaging position, such tumbler adapted to be engaged by a key to remove it to a position disengaging the catch.

4. In a lock, the combination of a casing, tumblers inclosed loosely in such casing and unsecured thereto, such tumblers adapted l to engage a catch insertible in the casing and a separate spring loosely contained in the casing to retain the tumblers in engaging positlon, such tumblers adapted to be engaged by a key to be moved to a position disengaging the catch.

5. n a lock, the combination of a casing, a tumbler having a' hook formed thereon and loosely contained in the. casing to rotate when operated, a catch adapted to enter the casing to engage the hook, and a spring loosely contained in the casing separate from the tumbler tending to hold the tumbler in engaging position.

6. In a lock, the combination of a casing, tumblers eachhaving a hook formed thereon and loosely contained in the casing, a catch adapted to enter the casing to engage the hooks, and a common spring loosely contained in the casing separate from the tumbler and tending to hold the tumblers in engaging position.

7. In a lock, the combination of a casing, a tumbler having a hook formed thereon and loosely contained in the casing to rotate when operated, a catch adapted to enter the casing to engage the hook, a spring loosely contained in the casing separate from the tumbler and tending to hold the tumbler in engaging position, and a device for opposing the action of the spring to hold the tumbler in operative position.

8. In a lock, the combination of a casing, tumblers each having a hook formed thereon and loosely contained in the casing, a catch adapted to enter the casing to engage the hook, a common spring loosely contained in the casing separate from the tumblers and tending to hold the tumblers in engaging position, and a device for opposing the action of the spring to hold the tumblers in operative position.

9. In a lock, the combination of a casing, a tumbler having a hook formed thereon and loosely contained in the casing to rotate When operated, a catch ada ted to enter the. casing to engage the hoo a spring loosely contained in the casing separate from the tumbler and tending to hold the tumbler in engaging position, and a cylinder adapted to limit the motion of the tumbler under the action of the spring and to receive a key for moving the tumbler to an inoperative position.

10. In a lock, the combination of a casing, tumblers each having a hook formed thereon and loosely contained in the casing, a catch adapted to enter the casing to engage the hook, a common spring loosely contained in the casing separate from the tumblers and tending to hold the tumblers in engaging position, and a cylinder adapted to limit 1 the motion of the tumblers under the action of the spring and to receive a key for moving the tumblers to an inoperative position.

11. A lock comprisin onl a casing, a loosely contained pair o tum 1ers each for directly engaging a catch and a key, and a spring engaging the tumblers and tending to hold each tumbler in enga ing position independently ofthe other tum 1er.

12. A lock loosely contained pair of oppositely disposed tumblers to be engaged by a'key and comprising only a casing, a

normally in the path of a coperating catch,l and a spring engaging the tumblers and tending to hold them individually in the connected therewith, a separate controlling spring for the tumblers, and stop mechanism for normally retaining the tumblers against the action of such spring in posi- 10 -tion to engage a catch.

ln witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of May, A. D. 1910.

ALBERT C. BELL.

Witnesses ROBERT F. BRAOKE, ADOLPH A. THOMAS. 

